Seasonal Affective Disorder: Blame It on Sunlight and Serotonin

The winter blues are not just a frame of mind; they are also a state of mind.
Seasonal affective disorder
(SAD) is characterized by a drop in energy level, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, weight gain, and carbohydrate cravings, among other symptoms. It usually begins by late fall or early winter and ends by late spring or early summer. The neurotransmitter serotonin is believed to play a significant role in SAD.

It Is (and Isn’t) All in Your Head

Although scientists have long suspected an important role for serotonin in SAD, concentrations of this neurotransmitter in the cerebrospinal fluid bathing the brain and spinal cord of people with SAD appear to be normal.

In an article published in
The Lancet, researchers from the Baker Heart Research Institute in Australia sought to determine whether concentrations of serotonin and other neurotransmitters measured from blood vessels draining the brain (a more accurate measure of serotonin concentrations in the brain than cerebrospinal fluid) would provide evidence for the relationship between serotonin and SAD.

In this study, researchers enrolled 101 healthy men between the ages of 18-79 years old. None of the men included in the study had a history of major illness (including
depression
) or cardiovascular disease, were currently on any medication, or had previous psychiatric therapy.
Over the course of a year, the researchers gained access to blood draining from the brain of the volunteers by taking samples from their internal jugular veins, which are found in the neck. They then measured the blood concentrations of serotonin and two other neurotransmitters not believed to be directly related to SAD—dopamine and norepinephrine—to use as controls. The neurotransmitter concentrations were then correlated to seasonal factors (measured daily), such as highest and lowest temperatures, total rainfall, and hours of bright sunlight.

As expected, production of serotonin by the brain was lowest in winter and was strongly correlated with the amount of bright sunlight during the day. Other than bright sunlight, no other seasonal factors had an effect on serotonin production. Concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine were not influenced by these factors.

The major limitation of this study is that it was conducted on healthy volunteers, and it is not known whether environmental factors would affect people with SAD in the same way.

SAD Can Be Treated

Research draws connections between sunlight, serotonin, and SAD. One common treatment for SAD involves light therapy, the use of light to stimulate the brain to produce neurotransmitters. You sit a few feet away from a special light box for a prescribed amount of time—usually up to 45 minutes—every day. This light is stronger than ordinary office or household lighting. If light therapy works for you, your symptoms will most likely improve significantly.

If light therapy does not work for you or if your depression is severe, your doctor may prescribe a type of antidepressant called
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs). SSRIs increase the level of serotonin activity in the brain.

There are several other ways to improve your mood. They seem to be especially useful in cases of mild depression.

Exercise regularly
—Numerous studies have shown the influence of regular exercise on mood.

Talk to your doctor about
St John’s Wort
—This herb has been found to help with depression. There needs to be more research, though, on its effectiveness in treating SAD. Always talk to your doctor before taking herbs in supplements. They may interact with other medications. Also, it may
not
be safe to combine St. John's wort with light therapy because the herb may make you more sensitive to light, possibly causing damage to your skin and eyes.

CANADIAN RESOURCES

References

Antidepressant use in children, adolescents, and adults. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/UCM096273.
Updated August 12, 2010. Accessed January 31, 2014.

Lambert GW, Reid C, Kaye DM, et al. Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain.
The Lancet. 2002;360:1840-1842.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.